HR Business Partner-Merced, CA

Fortis is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to support our Merced, CA facility and collaborate with plant leadership on workforce planning, hiring, and onboarding.

About the role

This in-office position supports the Merced, CA facility and three additional locations remotely: Napa, CA, Paso Robles, CA, and Santa Fe Springs, CA. Some annual travel to these locations and the corporate office in Virginia Beach, VA will be required (up to 30% annually).

As the Human Resources Business Partner, you will serve as the frontline HR representative for employees and managers, providing daily support, guidance, and execution of HR processes. You will work closely with department and plant leadership on workforce planning, staffing, and onboarding, while ensuring smooth implementation of HR initiatives developed by Centers of Excellence (CoEs), including Talent Management, Communications, and Compensation & Benefits.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary point of contact for employees and front-line leaders on HR-related inquiries, policies, and processes.
• Serve as a culture and employee experience champion, driving positive change and growth for supported business units.
• Engage in company-wide culture and change initiatives, translating them at the local and department level.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and support to managers on performance management, employee relations, team dynamics, and organizational change.
• Ensure consistent and fair application of HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Manage employee relations concerns, escalating complex issues as appropriate.
• Lead and oversee workplace investigations across multiple sites, ensuring consistent, timely, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Provide strategic guidance to leaders on risk assessment, documentation, and corrective action while promoting fair and equitable employee relations practices.
• Serve as a strategic partner to site leadership on employee relations and disciplinary decisions, including terminations, ensuring alignment with company policy, labor laws, and operational realities.
• Guide compliant offboarding practices across locations, balancing legal risk, business continuity, and a respectful employee experience.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and plant leadership to leverage workforce planning insights and drive proactive staffing, training, and upskilling initiatives.
• Manage end-to-end onboarding for all new hires, ensuring an effective and positive introduction to the company.
• Provide strategic HR support across multiple sites, balancing consistency with site-specific needs through on-site coaching, program implementation, and regular travel.
• Translate and implement enterprise-wide HR programs and initiatives at the frontline level, including Talent Management, Communications, and Compensation & Benefits.
• Lead and support employee engagement initiatives, including administering surveys, facilitating focus groups, analyzing results, and partnering with site leadership to develop action plans.
• Provide feedback to CoEs on program effectiveness and operational impact.
• Monitor and analyze HR metrics (e.g., turnover trends, engagement indicators) to identify patterns and recommend interventions.
• Maintain accurate HR documentation and ensure data integrity in HR systems; support audits as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and company policies.
• Additional duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, or related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of progressive HR experience; experience as a generalist or HR business partner preferred.
• HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP) preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Experience in a high-growth, multi-site organization, ideally in manufacturing or industrial sectors.

Skills

• Strong understanding of HR processes, employment law, and HR best practices.
• Able to build trust, influence stakeholders, and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong conflict resolution, investigation, and employee relations skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision across multiple locations.
• Able to utilize data to make decisions.
• High proficiency with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Demands

• Typical office hours and demands.
• Ability to walk production floors and stand for short periods while visiting plant locations.
• Pass a pre-employment drug test.

Work Environment

• Typical office environment with occasional exposure to production or warehouse facilities.
• Comply with company or customer PPE or safety requirements while visiting locations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k with company match.
• Holiday pay.
• Supplemental medical, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Performance bonus.
• Paid time off, paid sick time, and parental leave.
• Charitable gift matching.
• Relocation package available.

Pay

$90,000 to $95,000 annually plus eligibility for a performance bonus.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.